Hairpin



P 1951 M. c. TOWNS, JR 2,566,782

HAIRPIN Filed March 21, 1949 71 766) 5. ,2 16 M c W INVENMR.

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fiatenteci Sept. 4, 195i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIRPIN MirabeauC.Towns, Jr., Sparta, N. J. I Application March 21, 1949, Serial No.82,661

2 Claims. (Cl.13250) This invention relates generally to hairpins,

and more particularly to an improved hairpin 'of the bobby pin typewhich may be readily used with either hand alone and which cannot turnin the hair nor tear the hairs.

In the past, many attempts have been made to provide hairpins of varioussorts which would be susceptible of re dymanipulation' during theprocess of pinningup the hair. However, the known hairpin devices of thebobby pin type are generally characterized by a number of realdisadvantages which make them impractical in use and hence, unpopularwith the trade.

. Among the above disadvantages are: a difficulty in separating the legsof the hairpin preparatory to its insertion in the hair resulting ininvention is to provide anirnproved hairpin which obviates theaforementioned disadvantages of prior art structures. I e

Another important object of the invention is to provide a hairpin whichmay be readily manipulated with only one hand by a person of ordinaryfinger dexterity or less; A further important object ofthe invention isto provide a hairpin which is so constructed as to prevent its turningafter being placed in the hair and which will indicate by touch to theuser whether the hairpin is right side up or not so as to enable itsready use without visual inspection or even in the dark.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide anunusually efficient hairpin of the bobby pin type in which thecooperating legs are so shaped as to prevent tearing of the individualhairs and yet permit the hairpin to be withdrawn from the hair by simplypullin the hairpin therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hairpin which is ofsimple though rugged construction, neat in appearance, and inexpensiveto manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readilyapparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In thisshowing;

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention illustrating its readymanipulation with a single hand;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the invention;

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4- 4 of Figure2, parts being shown in plan; 10

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view to an enlarged scale, taken on theline 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View. to an enlarged scale of theinvention, taken on the line 5-6 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the invention com,-

prises a long strip of resilient stock material,

preferably metal, bent to form a loop l0 and a pair of legsl2 and H. Theupper leg I2 is of greater length and bent upwardly and outwardly as at5 to facilitate the insertion'of the hairpin in the hair as will becomeapparent.

An important feature, of the invention residesin the fact that the stockfrom which the hair'- pin is formed is slightly convex on the innersurface and slightly concave on the outer. As 'seen l8, so as tocompletely eliminate all sharp edges so that the hairpin is incapable oftearing individual hairs during itsinsertion or removal.

' It is to benoted that the convexity of the inner surfaces of the legsl2 and I4 is such that while a maximum of clamping action is obtained atthe crowns or central portions, the remaining portions of the surfacesalso function in this manner although to a slightly lesser degree.Accordingly, the clamping function is fully maintained by the hairpinwhile it is unable to tear or injure the individual hairs.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of awidened portion in the lower leg M at its outer end. This widened legportion comprises a pair of oppositely projecting wings 2D and 22 whichare preferably integral with the leg H to enable the hairpin as a wholeto be readily formed from the same sheet of stock.

The wing 2|] has the same lateral dimension but is longer than the wing22 in order that the. user may instantly determine by comparative touchwhether the hairpin is right side up or not. This is extremelyadvantageous to women,

wings 20 and 22 have a stabilizing effect and prevent any tendency ofthe hairpin to turniin the hair and thus prevents accidentalmisplacement of set curls, etc. 1 I Y 'It will now be readilyapparentthatthe hair- 'pin comprising the present invention maybereadily manipulated and requires but ordinary, or less, dexterity ofthe-fingers. ins atthe s rce f s ply, h use ma h a u with o n and reach.foran as y grasp'a hairpin by its wings 20 and 22 with the other hand.I

If using the right hand, the thumb should engage the side of the shorterwing 22, while the se on fi er e a s he s o he Wine If the hairpin notpicked up in this position, the fact will be readily'apparent to thetouch by the difference in length of the wings and the hairpinisthereupon turned right side up.

Holding the hairpin in the described position, the loop [.0 will engagethe palm of the hand. The index finger is'nowv extended to engage theend l6 of the upper leg and by exerting pressure away from the thumpvand second finger, the legs l2 and I4 are readily separated and placedin position in the hair. The hairpin is removed from, the hair bysimply. pulling it therefrom without danger of pulling or injuring theindividual hairs duefto the rounded surfaces and corners of theinvention. 7

It is tobe noted that-this important featur the provision of a practicalhairpin which re- Without look tion which also indicates, without thepresently required inspection, whether it is right side up or not.Moreover, the wings ensure the coiifure intended by preventing turningof the hairpin in the hair with an ensuing loosing or misplacement ofcurls, etc. Injury to the hair by the hairpin therein or bein removedtherefrom is prevented by the mating convex surfaces and their roundededges. t

It is to rb'e understood :that theiform .of my invention herewith shownand described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departure trgm; the spirit of the invention or the.sco pf he bi m claims- 1 A-hairpin comprising a strip of resilientmaterial bent to form a long leg and a short leg in ceme t g en age t sad sho g. in of substantially greater width than said long leg adjacentits end to for na pair of finger engagms wine t fa ili ate e h 'flm ni tip s hairpin, one of said wings being of reat r len th than the other.to indicate the relative vertical position of said legs; 7

A Q -ha d dh rpin cqm r s ea tr iof resilient material bent .to forrn ;along leg and a short leg in contacting engagement andmeans e aeee byehum and ec nd nger o effecting a se arat o o saidj e sw n r fingerurges the end of the long leg away from said short leg comprising a pairof laterally proj t in wi fo m d o s i lo erv e i e' n quires the use ofonly 'onehand, is accomplished in a hairpin of conventional-size exceptfor the wings. The latter are of minimum sizeto avoid a space problem inmarketing but of sufiicient size to, enable the hairpin torbe readilygraspe for the purposes stated. Thus the hairpin comprising the presentinvention is especially ,suitablefor putting up the hair with one handwithout damagin the finger nails, their Polisher the teeth as the legsare so readilyrsepara'ble due to the wing construcits end oneofjsaidwings being ofgreaterlength than the other to indicate the;relative vertical position of saidlegs. r MIRABEAU o. TOWNS, JR.

REFERENCES CITE-D The following references are of recordin the file ofthis patent: V 7

UNITED' STATES PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 28, 1932

